Horizontal flipper mullion incorporated within a false mullion of an appliance

ABSTRACT

An appliance includes a cabinet having outer walls that define a portion of a contact surface. Operable panels are engaged with the cabinet and operate between closed and open positions. A lateral mullion is pivotally attached to a mullion panel of the plurality of operable panels and is operable between contact and tucked positions. When the mullion panel is in the closed position, an outer surface of the lateral mullion is in the vertically pointed contact position and defines a portion of the contact surface to receive a seal of the mullion panel and selectively receive a seal of a vertically adjacent panel. Movement of the mullion panel to the open position rotates the lateral mullion about a horizontal axis to define the tucked position such that the mullion panel can move to the open position free of operation of the vertically adjacent panel.

BACKGROUND

The device is in the field of kitchen-type electrical appliances. Morespecifically, the device is in the field of operable false mullionstructures for kitchen appliances.

SUMMARY

In at least one aspect, an appliance includes a cabinet having aplurality of outer walls that define a portion of a contact surface. Aplurality of operable panels is operably engaged with the cabinet,wherein each operable panel is operable between closed and openpositions. The closed position of each respective operable panel isdefined by a seal of the respective operable panel being in directcontact with the contact surface. A lateral mullion is pivotallyattached to a mullion panel of the plurality of operable panels and ispivotally operable between a contact position and a tucked position. Thecontact position is defined when the mullion panel is in the closedposition such that an outer surface of the lateral mullion is in avertical orientation and defines a portion of the contact surface toreceive the seal of the mullion panel and selectively receive a seal ofa vertically adjacent panel. Movement of the mullion panel to the openposition rotates the lateral mullion about a horizontal axis to definethe tucked position such that the mullion panel can move to the openposition free of operation of the vertically adjacent panel.

In at least another aspect, a mullion assembly of an appliance includesa lateral mullion operable about a horizontal axis between a contactposition and a tucked position, wherein the contact position places anouter surface of the lateral mullion in a vertical orientation to definea portion of a contact surface of the appliance, and wherein the contactsurface is substantially positioned in a single vertical plane. At leastone mullion guide is attached to a cabinet of the appliance that ispositioned such that the at least one mullion guide receives an end ofthe lateral mullion in the contact position to define the contactsurface. A mullion panel is operable between open and closed positionsrelative to the contact surface. The lateral mullion is pivotallycoupled to the mullion panel such that operation of the mullion panel tothe closed position defines an engagement between the lateral mullionand the at least one mullion guide to operate the lateral mullion fromthe tucked position to the contact positions. Operation of the mullionpanel away from the closed position causes the at least one mullionguide to operate the lateral mullion from the contact position to thetucked position. A vertically adjacent panel is operable between a panelopen position and a panel closed position, wherein when the verticallyadjacent panel is in the panel closed position, the vertically adjacentpanel engages the portion of the contact surface defined by the lateralmullion in the contact position.

In at least another aspect, an appliance includes a cabinet having aplurality of walls that define a portion of a contact surface, whereinthe contact surface includes a selectively operable lateral portion thatoperates between a flush position and a displaced position. A lateralmullion selectively defines the selectively operable lateral portion ofthe contact surface, wherein the lateral mullion is selectively operablebetween a contact position that corresponds to the flush position,wherein the selectively operable lateral portion is flush with aremainder of the contact surface, and a tucked position that correspondsto the displaced position wherein the selectively operable lateralportion is free of alignment with the remainder of the contact surface.A mullion panel is operable between open and closed positions. Thelateral mullion is pivotally connected proximate a laterally extendingedge of the mullion panel, wherein the open position of the mullionpanel corresponds to the displaced position of the selectively operablelateral portion and the closed position of the mullion panel correspondsto the flush position of the selectively operable lateral portion. Avertically adjacent panel is operable between a panel open position anda panel closed position, wherein the vertically adjacent panel in thepanel closed position engages the selectively operable lateral portionin the flush position, and wherein the selectively operable lateralportion is operable between the flush and displaced positions when thevertically adjacent panel is in any of the panel open and panel closedpositions.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present devicewill be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the artupon studying the following specification, claims, and appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an appliance incorporating anaspect of the operable lateral mullion;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 1 with thepantry drawer and the refrigerator compartment doors in an open positionand illustrating the operable lateral mullion in the tucked position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2 takenat area III;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of a mullion panelfor a refrigerating appliance;

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded front perspective view of the mullionpanel of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the mullion panel of FIG. 4illustrating the operable lateral mullion in the tucked position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the mullion panel of FIG. 6taken at area VII;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the mullion panel of FIG. 6 with theoperable lateral mullion moved to the contact position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerating applianceillustrating operation of the lateral mullion and mullion panel withrespect to the vertically adjacent panel, with the lateral mullion inthe tucked position;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the appliance of FIG. 9illustrating movement of the lateral mullion toward the contact positionas the mullion panel is moved toward the closed position;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the appliance of FIG. 10illustrating the lateral mullion in the contact position and the mullionpanel in the closed position;

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a pair of mullion panelsincorporating independently operable sections of an aspect of thelateral mullion, with each of the sections of the lateral mullion in thetucked position; and

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the pair of mullion panels of FIG.12 with one section of the lateral mullion in the contact position andthe other section of the lateral mullion in the tucked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the device as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it isto be understood that the device may assume various alternativeorientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specificdimensions and other physical characteristics relating to theembodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-11, reference numeral 10 generally refers to amullion assembly incorporated within an appliance 12, where the mullionassembly 10 typically defines at least a portion of a false mullion 14for the appliance 12. According to the various embodiments, theappliance 12 can include a cabinet 16 having a plurality of outer walls18 that define a portion of a contact surface 20. A plurality ofoperable panels 22 of the appliance 12 are operably engaged with thecabinet 16 proximate the contact surface 20. Each operable panel 22 isadapted to be operable between closed and open positions 24, 26. Theclosed position 24 of each respective operable panel 22 is defined by aseal 28 of the respective operable panel 22 being in direct contact withthe contact surface 20. The open position 26 of each respective operablepanel 22 is defined by the seal 28 for the respective operable panel 22being removed from a portion of the contact surface 20 proximate theouter walls 18 of the cabinet 16. An operable lateral mullion 30 ispivotally attached to a mullion panel 32 of the plurality of operablepanels 22. The lateral mullion 30 is pivotally operable between acontact position 34 and a tucked position 36.

Referring again to aspects of the device as exemplified in FIGS. 1-11,the contact position 34 of the lateral mullion 30 is defined when themullion panel 32 is in the closed position 24 such that an outer surfaceof the lateral mullion 30 is in a vertical orientation and also definesa portion of the contact surface 20. In this manner, the outer surfaceof the lateral mullion 30 is adapted to receive the seal 28 of themullion panel 32 and also selectively receive a seal 28 of a verticallyadjacent panel 40. It is contemplated that movement of the mullion panel32 to the open position 26 serves to rotate the lateral mullion 30 abouta horizontal axis 42 to define a tucked position 36 of the lateralmullion 30. In this manner, the mullion panel 32 can be moved to theopen position 26 free of operation of the vertically adjacent panel 40.Accordingly, when the mullion panel 32 is moved from the closed position24 to the open position 26, the lateral mullion 30 is operated from thevertically oriented contact position 34 to the generally horizontallyoriented tucked position 36, such that the lateral mullion 30 is tuckedat least partially behind the mullion panel 32 to bypass the verticallyadjacent panel 40, such that the mullion panel 32 can be operatedwithout substantially disturbing the vertically adjacent panel 40, whenin the closed position 24. Similarly, when the vertically adjacent panel40 is in the closed position 24 and the mullion panel 32 is moved towardthe closed position 24, the lateral mullion 30, being in the tuckedposition 36 and disposed at least partially behind the mullion panel 32,passes by the vertically adjacent panel 40 and rotates about thehorizontal axis 42 to be vertically oriented and behind the verticallyadjacent panel 40 as the mullion panel 32 is moved into the closedposition 24. In this manner, as the mullion panel 32 moves into theclosed position 24, the operable lateral mullion 30 is rotated from thehorizontal tucked position 36 and into the vertically oriented tuckedposition 36 to define at least a portion of the contact surface 20 ofthe cabinet 16. Accordingly, the mullion panel 32 can be moved into theclosed position 24, such that the lateral mullion 30 can be placed incontact with the respective seals 28 of the mullion panel 32 and thevertically adjacent panel 40 by moving only the mullion panel 32.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-11, it is contemplated that the operablelateral mullion 30 can be positioned proximate the top edge 50 of themullion panel 32. Accordingly, as exemplified in FIGS. 1-11, the lateralmullion 30 is positioned at a top edge 50 of the pantry drawer 52 forthe pantry compartment 54 of the appliance 12. In such an embodiment,the hinged door panel or panels 56 of the refrigerated compartment 58,depending upon the design of the appliance 12, can correspond to thevertically adjacent panels 40 that engage the outer surface 38 of thelateral mullion 30 when in the contact position 34. As such, the mullionpanel 32 can be defined by a drawer panel 60 of a slidable drawer 62that is laterally slidable between the open and closed positions 26, 24and the vertically adjacent panel 40 is a hinged door or a plurality ofhinged door panels 56 that each rotate about a respective vertical axis64.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-11, it is also contemplated that the lateralmullion 30 can engage to a bottom edge 70 of the mullion panel 32, wherethe mullion panel 32 can correspond to an operable hinged door panel 56that is operable about a vertical axis 64. In such an embodiment, theoperable lateral mullion 30 can be disposed at the bottom edge 70 of thesingle operable hinged door panel 56, or may be defined by separatesections 72 of the lateral mullion 30 that are disposed at a bottom edge70 of each of a pair of operable French door panels 56 that rotate aboutrespective vertical axes 64. It is contemplated that where the operablelateral mullion 30 is disposed at a bottom edge 70 of a door panel 56,the operable lateral mullion 30 moves with the door between the open andclosed positions 26, 24. The lateral mullion 30 then rotates downwardabout a horizontal axis 42 when the door panels 56 are moved into theclosed position 24. In this manner, when the operable lateral mullion 30is moved such that the door panel 56 is proximate into the closedposition 24, the outer surface 38 of the lateral mullion 30 can operatebetween the tucked position 36 and the contact position 34 as thevarious operable door panels 56 are moved into the closed position 24.The vertically adjacent panel 40, in this configuration, may bepositioned below the mullion panel 32, where the vertically adjacentpanel 40 can be defined by a drawer panel 60 or door panel 56 thatoperates below the lateral mullion 30.

According to the various embodiments, the use of the operable lateralmullion 30 can at least partially define the false mullion 14 for theappliance 12, where the false mullion 14 defines at least a portion ofthe contact surface 20 of the appliance 12. The false mullion 14 isconfigured to define the contact surface 20 but may not extend to definea separation between interior compartments 80 of the appliance 12.Accordingly, the false mullion 14 is positioned proximate the contactsurface 20 and separate interior panels 82 or interior storage areas 84may be attached to the false mullion 14 to at least partially define aseparation between interior compartments 80 of the appliance 12. By wayof example, and not limitation, the false mullion 14 may serve to definethe contact surface 20 that extends between the pantry drawer 52 of thepantry compartment 54 and the door panels 56 of the refrigeratedcompartment 58. The separation between the refrigerated compartment 58and the pantry compartment 54 may be defined by interior panels 82 thatare positioned adjacent to or attached to the false mullion 14, but areseparate from the false mullion 14. Accordingly, the false mullion 14serves to define a selectively removable portion of the contact surface20 for defining a seal 28 between the various operable panels 22 thatare disposed adjacent to the false mullion 14 as will be described morefully below.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-11, it is contemplated that the false mullion14 can be further defined by at least one mullion guide 90 that alsodefines at least a portion of the contact surface 20 for the cabinet 16.In such an embodiment, the at least one mullion guide 90 is positionedto engage the lateral mullion 30 when the lateral mullion 30 is in thecontact position 34. The lateral mullion 30 and the mullion guide 90cooperate to define the false mullion 14 that extends between verticallypositioned outer walls 18 of the cabinet 16 when the lateral mullion 30is in the contact position 34. The at least one mullion guide 90 canfurther serve to operate the lateral mullion 30 between the tuckedposition 36 and the contact position 34 as the mullion panel 32 is movedinto and away from the closed position 24. Accordingly, the mullionguide 90 can include a guide groove 92 that engages a guide flange 94positioned at an end 96 of the lateral mullion 30. Movement of themullion panel 32 proximate the closed position 24 (i.e., into or awayfrom the closed position 24) serves to engage the guide flange 94 of thelateral mullion 30 with the guide groove 92 of the mullion guide 90 tooperate the lateral mullion 30 between the contact and tucked positions34, 36. It is contemplated that the position of the guide groove 92 andthe guide flange 94 can be switched such that the guide groove 92 isdisposed at an end 96 of the lateral mullion 30 and the guide flange 94is disposed within a portion of the mullion guide 90.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-11, it is contemplated that a first mullionguide 110 can be positioned at a first sidewall 112 of the cabinet 16and a second mullion guide 114 can be positioned at a second sidewall116 of the cabinet 16 opposite the first mullion guide 110. Where thelateral mullion 30 is engaged to a mullion panel 32 which extendssubstantially across the entire cabinet 16, the lateral mullion 30 caninclude guide flanges 94 at each end 96 of the lateral mullion 30 suchthat the mullion guide 90 engages both the first and second mullionguides 110, 114 to operate the lateral mullion 30 in between the contactand tucked positions 34, 36.

According to various alternate embodiments, as exemplified in FIGS.1-13, where the mullion panels 32 extend only part way across theappliance 12, such as where the mullion panel 32 is only one of a pairof French doors for the appliance 12, each of the operable French doorsincludes a separate section 72 of the operable lateral mullion 30, eachsection 72 of the operable lateral mullion 30 of the French doors mayengage only one of the first and second mullion guides 110, 114. In suchan embodiment, the opposing ends 96 of each of the sections 72 of thelateral mullion 30 engage one another such that when each of theoperable French doors are in a closed position 24, each section 72 ofthe lateral mullion 30 and the first and second mullion guides 110, 114define the false mullion 14 for the appliance 12 as well as a portion ofthe contact surface 20 for the cabinet 16. Such configuration alsoallows each individual operable door of the pair of French doors to beoperated between closed and open positions 24, 26 and, in turn, operatethe respective section 72 of the lateral mullion 30 between the tuckedand contact positions 36, 34 independently without disturbing the otherof the opposing French doors or the vertically adjacent panel 40, asdescribed above.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-13, it is also contemplated that a pantrycompartment 54 may include two separate pantry drawers 52, where eachpantry drawer 52 includes a separate section 72 of the lateral mullion30 that are independently operable from one another between the tuckedand contact positions 36, 34. As discussed above, where multiple pantrydrawers 52 are included, a section 72 of the operable lateral mullion 30corresponding to one of the pantry drawers 52 may engage only one of thefirst and second mullion guides 110, 114 to operate a section 72 of thelateral mullion 30 between the tucked and contact positions 36, 34.Additionally, the sections 72 of the lateral mullion 30 can engage oneanother at a mullion seal 130 that provides a thermal seal 28 betweenthe sections 72 of the lateral mullion 30.

According to the various embodiments, as exemplified in FIGS. 1-13, theengagement between the operable lateral mullion 30 and one or both ofthe first and second mullion guides 110, 114 can include a sealedarrangement such that when the lateral mullion 30 is engaged with one orboth of the mullion guide 90, the engagement of the guide groove 92 andguide flange 94 serves to substantially seal the engagement to preventunnecessary thermal dissipation and loss of heat from the variousinterior compartments 80 of the appliance 12. Additionally, where thelateral mullion 30 is split into sections 72 where the lateral mullion30 is attached to multiple pantry drawers 52 or multiple operable doorpanels 56, the engagement between the sections 72 of the lateral mullion30 can define a similar guide groove/guide flange arrangement thatdefines a thermal seal 28 between sections 72 of the lateral mullion 30to prevent unnecessary thermal discharge and unnecessary loss of heatthrough the contact surface 20 of the false mullion 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the first and second mullion guides 110, 114can define respective first and second mullion blocks 144, 146 thatserve to support a hinge for a vertically adjacent door panel 56. Inthis manner, the seal 28 of the vertically adjacent door panel 56 servesto engage the portion of the contact surface 20 defined by the lateralmullion 30, when the lateral mullion 30 is in the contact position 34.It is contemplated that where the appliance 12 is a French door bottommount (FDBM) appliance, each of the first and second mullion guides 110,114 can define first and second mullion blocks 144, 146 that eachsupport respective first and second hinges 148, 150, where the first andsecond hinges 148, 150 support respective door panels 56 of the pair ofoperable French doors for the appliance 12.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-13, the appliance 12 can include a mullionassembly 10 that defines a false mullion 14 for the appliance 12. Themullion assembly 10 can include the lateral mullion 30 that is operableabout the horizontal axis 42 between the contact position 34 and tuckedposition 36. In this manner, the contact position 34 places an outersurface 38 of the lateral mullion 30 in the vertical orientation todefine a contact surface 20 of the appliance 12. In this manner, thecontact surface 20 of the appliance 12 is substantially placed in asingle vertical plane 160. When the lateral mullion 30 is moved to atucked position 36, the portion of the contact surface 20 defined by thelateral mullion 30 is moved out of this single vertical plane 160. Theat least one mullion guide 90, that can be defined by the first andsecond mullion guides 110, 114, are attached to the cabinet 16 of theappliance 12. The first and second mullion guides 110, 114 arepositioned such that each receives an opposing end 96 of the lateralmullion 30 as the lateral mullion 30 moves into and away from thecontact position 34. The engagement of the lateral mullion 30 with thefirst and second mullion guides 110, 114 further defines the contactsurface 20 when the lateral mullion 30 is in the contact position 34.Accordingly, at least a portion of the first and second mullion guides110, 114 also define a portion of the contact surface 20 within thesingle vertical plane 160.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-13, the mullion panel 32 is operable betweenopen and closed positions 26, 24 relative to the contact surface 20. Inthis manner, the lateral mullion 30 is pivotally coupled to the mullionpanel 32 such that operation of the mullion panel 32 to the closedposition 24 defines the engagement between the lateral mullion 30 andthe first and second mullion guides 110, 114 to operate the lateralmullion 30 from a tucked position 36 to the contact position 34.Conversely, operation of the mullion panel 32 away from the closedposition 24 serves to allow the first and second mullion guides 110, 114to operate the lateral mullion 30 from the contact position 34 and intothe tucked position 36 such that the outer surface 38 of the lateralmullion 30 is no longer flush with the remainder of the contact surface20 of the appliance 12. The vertically adjacent panel 40 is operablebetween the panel open position 170 and the panel closed position 172.The vertically adjacent panel 40, when in the panel closed position 172,engages the portion of the contact surface 20 defined by the lateralmullion 30 in the contact position 34. Specifically, the seal 28 of thevertically adjacent panel 40 in the closed position 24 selectivelyengages the outer surface 38 of the lateral mullion 30 when the lateralmullion 30 is in the contact position 34.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-13, as discussed above, operation of themullion panel 32 from the closed position 24 to the open position 26 isdefined by the engagement of the lateral mullion 30 with the first andsecond mullion guides 110, 114. This engagement serves to rotate thelateral mullion 30 from the contact position 34 to the tucked position36 such that the lateral mullion 30 is placed behind the mullion panel32. When in the tucked position 36, the lateral mullion 30 can bypassthe vertically adjacent panel 40 and allow the mullion panel 32 to moveto the open position 26 without substantially disturbing the verticallyadjacent panel 40 when in the closed position 24. It is contemplated, invarious embodiments, that the lateral mullion 30 may engage only onemullion guide 90.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-13, it is contemplated that the cabinet 16includes the plurality of outer walls 18 that define at least a portionof the contact surface 20. The contact surface 20 of the appliance 12includes a selectively operable lateral portion 180 that operatesbetween the flush position 182 and the displaced position 184. Thelateral mullion 30 selectively defines a selectively operable lateralportion 180 of the contact surface 20. As discussed above, the lateralmullion 30 is selectively operable between a contact position 34 and thetucked position 36. The contact position 34 can correspond to the flushposition 182 of the selectively operable lateral portion 180. The flushposition 182 is further defined by the selectively operable lateralportion 180 being flush with the remainder of the contact surface 20.The tucked position 36 of the lateral mullion 30 can correspond to thedisplaced position 184 of the selectively operable lateral portion 180such that the displaced position 184 further defines the selectivelyoperable lateral portion 180 being free of alignment with the remainderof the contact surface 20 and free of alignment with the single verticalplane 160 that substantially defines the contact surface 20 of theappliance 12.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-13, the mullion panel 32 is operable betweenthe open and closed position 24 such that the lateral mullion 30 ispivotally connected proximate a laterally extending edge 190 of themullion. The laterally extending edge 190 may be the top edge 50 of thebottom edge 70 of the mullion panel 32, depending on the design of theappliance 12. The open position 26 of the mullion panel 32 correspondsto the displaced position 184 of the selectively operable lateralportion 180 such that the lateral mullion 30 is in a tucked position 36and allowed to pass by the vertically adjacent panel 40 when in theclosed position 24. Conversely, the closed position 24 of the mullionpanel 32 corresponds to the flush position 182 of the selectivelyoperable lateral portion 180 as well as the contact position 34 of thelateral mullion 30, such that the contact position 34 of the lateralmullion 30 corresponds to the selectively operable lateral portion 180being in the flush position 182 and substantially within the singlevertical plane 160 that defines the contact surface 20 of the appliance12.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-13, the vertically adjacent panel 40 isoperable between the panel open position 170 and the panel closedposition 172. In this manner, the vertically adjacent panel 40, when inthe panel closed position 172, engages the selectively operable lateralportion 180 in the flush position 182. As discussed above, theselectively operable lateral portion 180 is operable between the flushposition 182 and the displaced position 184 when the vertically adjacentpanel 40 is in either the panel open or panel closed positions 170, 172.This is due to the configuration of the lateral mullion 30 and themullion guides 90 that allow for the rotation of the lateral mullion 30about the horizontal axis 42 and between the contact position 34 and thetucked position 36 while the lateral mullion 30 is behind the verticallyadjacent panel 40. As such, the lateral mullion 30 moves into the tuckedposition 36 through engagement of the guide flanges 94 of the lateralmullion 30 with the guide grooves 92 of the first and second mullionguides 110, 114 while the lateral mullion 30 is behind the verticallyadjacent panel 40. Accordingly, the tucked position 36 of the lateralmullion 30 is achieved. While the lateral mullion 30 is substantiallyeven with or behind the vertically adjacent panel 40. In this manner,the lateral mullion 30 is already in a tucked position 36 as the lateralmullion 30 passes the vertically adjacent panel 40 and is allowed topass by the vertically adjacent panel 40 without substantially engagingthe vertically adjacent panel 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, it is contemplated that during operation ofthe lateral mullion 30 between a tucked position 36 and the contactposition 34, the selectively operable lateral portion 180 of the lateralmullion 30 only engages the vertically adjacent panel 40 in the closedposition 24 when the selectively operable lateral portion 180 is in theflush position 182, or substantially in the flush position 182.Accordingly, movement of the selectively operable lateral portion 180from the flush position 182 to the displaced position 184 first allowsthe selectively operable lateral portion 180 to move rearward and awayfrom the seal 28 of the vertically adjacent panel 40. In this manner,the movement of the selectively operable lateral portion 180 away fromthe flush position 182 first breaks the engagement seal 28 between theselectively operable lateral portion 180 rotates and the seal 28 of thevertically adjacent panel 40. Simultaneously, the selectively operablelateral portion 180 rotates vertically about the horizontal axis 42 andaway from the vertically adjacent panel 40 and toward the tuckedposition 36 behind the mullion panel 32 such that the lateral mullion 30can pass by the vertically adjacent panel 40, whether above or below thevertically adjacent panel 40, depending upon the configuration of theappliance 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the incorporation of the operable lateralmullion 30 from the appliance 12 serves to form the false mullion 14 ofthe appliance 12 only when necessary to form a seal 28 between thevarious operable panels 22 of the appliance 12. When the lateral mullion30 is moved into the tucked position 36 and the mullion panel 32 ismoved to the open position 26, the false mullion 14 is substantiallyeliminated. In this manner, additional storage areas 84 are madeaccessible and available in the area selectively vacated by the lateralmullion 30 when moved from the contact position 34 to the tuckedposition 36 and when the mullion panel 32 is moved to the open position26. The selective removal of the false mullion 14 through the operationof the lateral mullion 30 and the mullion panel 32 serves to provideadditional storage areas 84 within the appliance 12 and provides greateraccessibility to the various interior compartments 80 of the appliance12 proximate the removable false mullion 14. Selective removal of thelateral mullion 30 through operation of the mullion panel 32 can alsoserve to provide areas within which portions of the various utilitysystems can be accessed. By way of example, and not limitation, a waterfilter, ice maker, water tank, light fixture, or other similar utilityfeature of the appliance 12 can be accessed behind the false mullion 14when the lateral mullion 30 is moved to the tucked position 36 and themullion panel 32 is moved to the open position 26 to reveal variousaccess points of the appliance 12 behind the selectively removable falsemullion 14.

It is also contemplated that various smaller storage areas 84 can bedefined behind the selectively removable false mullion 14 where thesesmaller storage spaces may have different environmental conditions suchas different temperatures, humidity levels, or other environmentaldifferences from the adjacent interior compartments 80 of the appliance12 above and/or below the false mullion 14. Accordingly, a storage area84 behind the selectively removable false mullion 14 can define anadditional refrigerated compartment 58, freezing compartment, warmingcompartment, crisper, chiller, turbo cooling compartment, combinationsthereof, or other similar interior compartment having a dedicatedfunctionality.

According to the various embodiments, it is contemplated that theoperation of the lateral mullion 30 can be controlled by various biasingmechanisms 200 that serve to bias the lateral mullion 30 toward thetucked position 36. In this manner, operation of the lateral mullion 30from the tucked position 36 to the contact position 34 can only beachieved, or substantially only be achieved, through use of the firstand second mullion guides 110, 114 to overcome the biasing force of thebiasing mechanism 200 and operate the lateral mullion 30 to the contactposition 34. The use of the biasing mechanism 200 serves to maintain thelateral mullion 30 in the tucked position 36 when the mullion panel 32is in the open position 26. Accordingly, the lateral mullion 30 can beproperly aligned to properly engage the first and/or second mullionguides 110, 114 when the mullion panel 32 is moved into the closedposition 24 and the lateral mullion 30 can be operated by the mullionguides 90 into the contact position 34. It is contemplated that thebiasing mechanism 200 can be incorporated into the clips 202 that extendfrom a portion of the lateral mullion 30 to engage with the mullionpanel 32 at a clip receptacle 204.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, where the first and/or second mullionguides 110, 114 define the first and second mullion blocks 144, 146 thatsupport the first and second hinges 148, 150, the first and secondmullion guides 110, 114 can include structural members 210 that areincorporated within a cabinet 16 to provide a robust support for thefirst and second hinges 148, 150 and, in turn, the first and secondoperable door panels 56. The structural members 210 disposed within thefirst and second mullion guides 110, 114 serve to support the first andsecond mullion guides 110, 114 without substantially interfering withthe operation of the lateral mullion 30 between the tucked and contactposition 36, 34. In this manner, the mullion guide 90 is sized toaccommodate the structural attachment points of each hinge of theoperable door panels 56 such that a minimal width of the first andsecond mullion guides 110, 114 can be achieved while maximizing thewidth of the lateral mullion 30 within the false mullion 14. Thisgreater width of the lateral mullion 30 and lesser width of the mullionguides 90 serves to maximize the accessibility behind the false mullion14 through which various additional storage areas 84 can be available tothe user when the selectively removable false mullion 14 is removedthrough operation of the mullion panel 32 to the open position 26 andthe lateral mullion 30 to the tucked position 36.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art thatconstruction of the described device and other components is not limitedto any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the devicedisclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unlessdescribed otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of itsforms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining oftwo components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to oneanother. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature.Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical ormechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the twocomponents. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removableor releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe elements of the device as shown in the exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinnovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, theoperation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, thelength or width of the structures and/or members or connector or otherelements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustmentpositions provided between the elements may be varied. It should benoted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may beconstructed from any of a wide variety of materials that providesufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors,textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present innovations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired andother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of thepresent innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps withindescribed processes may be combined with other disclosed processes orsteps to form structures within the scope of the present device. Theexemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrativepurposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can bemade on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing fromthe concepts of the present device, and further it is to be understoodthat such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claimsunless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodimentsonly. Modifications of the device will occur to those skilled in the artand to those who make or use the device. Therefore, it is understoodthat the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above is merelyfor illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of thedevice, which is defined by the following claims as interpretedaccording to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine ofEquivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An appliance comprising: a cabinet having aplurality of outer walls that define a portion of a contact surface; aplurality of operable panels operably engaged with the cabinet, whereineach operable panel is operable between closed and open positions,wherein the closed position of each respective operable panel is definedby a seal of the respective operable panel being in direct contact withthe contact surface; and a lateral mullion that is pivotally attached toa mullion panel of the plurality of operable panels and is pivotallyoperable between a contact position and a tucked position, wherein thecontact position is defined when the mullion panel is in the closedposition such that an outer surface of the lateral mullion is in avertical orientation and defines a portion of the contact surface toreceive the seal of the mullion panel and selectively receive seals oftwo vertically adjacent panels, and wherein movement of the mullionpanel to the open position rotates the lateral mullion about ahorizontal axis to define the tucked position such that the mullionpanel can move to the open position free of operation of the twovertically adjacent panels, at least one mullion guide that includesfirst and second mullion guides, wherein the first and second mullionguides define first and second mullion blocks that each support a hingefor one of the two vertically adjacent panels, respectively.
 2. Theappliance of claim 1, wherein the lateral mullion is positionedproximate a top edge of the mullion panel.
 3. The appliance of claim 1,wherein the mullion panel is defined by a drawer panel of a slidabledrawer, and wherein the two vertically adjacent panels are first andsecond rotationally operable door panels that rotate about respectivevertical axes.
 4. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising: the atleast one mullion guide that further defines the contact surface,wherein the at least one mullion guide is positioned to engage thelateral mullion in the contact position, wherein the lateral mullion andthe at least one mullion guide cooperate to define a false mullionextending between side walls of the cabinet.
 5. The appliance of claim4, wherein the at least one mullion guide includes a guide groove thatengages a guide flange at an end of the lateral mullion, and whereinmovement of the mullion panel proximate the closed position engages theguide flange of the lateral mullion with the guide groove of the atleast one mullion guide to operate the lateral mullion between thecontact and tucked positions.
 6. The appliance of claim 4, wherein thefirst and second mullion guides slidably engage respective ends of thelateral mullion.
 7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the first andsecond mullion guides define first and second mullion blocks that eachsupport a hinge for one of the two vertically adjacent panels,respectively, and wherein the seals of the two vertically adjacentpanels selectively engage the portion of the contact surface defined bythe lateral mullion when the lateral mullion is in the contact position.8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein each of the hinges are definedwithin the first and second mullion blocks, respectively, and wherein aspace between the first and second mullion blocks receives the lateralmullion in the contact position.
 9. The appliance of claim 8, whereineach of the first and second mullion blocks are separated by the spaceand are free of structural support from the other of the first andsecond mullion blocks.
 10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the firstand second mullion blocks include structural members that extend fromopposing sidewalls, respectively, of the plurality of outer walls andinto each of the first and second mullion blocks.
 11. The appliance ofclaim 9, wherein the lateral mullion in the contact position and thefirst and second mullion blocks define a substantially continuousportion of the contact surface extending between opposing sidewalls. 12.A mullion assembly of an appliance, the mullion assembly comprising: alateral mullion operable about a horizontal axis between a contactposition and a tucked position, wherein the contact position places anouter surface of the lateral mullion in a vertical orientation to definea portion of a contact surface of the appliance, and wherein the contactsurface is substantially positioned in a single vertical plane; firstand second mullion guides attached to a cabinet of the appliance thatare positioned such that each of the first and second mullion guidesreceives a respective end of the lateral mullion in the contact positionto define the contact surface; a mullion panel that is operable betweenopen and closed positions relative to the contact surface, wherein thelateral mullion is pivotally coupled to the mullion panel such thatoperation of the mullion panel to the closed position defines anengagement between the lateral mullion and the first and second mullionguides to operate the lateral mullion from the tucked position to thecontact position, and wherein operation of the mullion panel away fromthe closed position causes the first and second mullion guides tooperate the lateral mullion from the contact position to the tuckedposition; and vertically adjacent first and second operable door panelsthat are each operable between a panel open position and a panel closedposition, wherein when at least one of the first and second operabledoor panels is in the panel closed position, the at least one of thefirst and second operable door panels engages the portion of the contactsurface defined by the lateral mullion in the contact position, whereinthe first and second mullion guides define first and second mullionblocks, respectively, and wherein the first and second mullion blockssupport first and second hinges, respectively.
 13. The mullion assemblyof claim 12, wherein the tucked position of the lateral mullion providesfor operation of the mullion panel from the closed position to the openposition when either of the first and second operable door panels are ineither of the panel open and panel closed positions.
 14. The mullionassembly of claim 12, wherein the lateral mullion is positionedproximate a top edge of the mullion panel.
 15. The mullion assembly ofclaim 12, wherein the mullion panel is defined by a drawer panel of aslidable drawer, and wherein the first and second operable door panelsare each a pair of hinged door panels that rotates about respectivevertical axes.
 16. The mullion assembly of claim 15, wherein theslidable drawer is a pantry drawer.
 17. The mullion assembly of claim12, wherein each of the first and second mullion guides include a guideflange that engages a guide groove at a respective end of the lateralmullion, and wherein movement of the mullion panel proximate the closedposition engages the guide grooves of the lateral mullion with therespective guide flanges of the first and second mullion guides tooperate the lateral mullion between the contact and tucked positions.18. The mullion assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and secondhinges support the first and second operable door panels, respectively,wherein the first and second mullion blocks are separated from oneanother to define a space that receives the lateral mullion, wherein thefirst and second mullion blocks define a portion of the contact surfaceand are free of structural support from the other of the first andsecond mullion blocks.
 19. An appliance comprising: a cabinet having aplurality of walls that define a portion of a contact surface, whereinthe contact surface includes a selectively operable lateral portion thatoperates between a flush position and a displaced position; a lateralmullion that selectively defines the selectively operable lateralportion of the contact surface, wherein the lateral mullion isselectively operable between a contact position that corresponds to theflush position, wherein the selectively operable lateral portion isflush with a remainder of the contact surface, and a tucked positionthat corresponds to the displaced position wherein the selectivelyoperable lateral portion is free of alignment with the remainder of thecontact surface, wherein the contact surface includes first and secondmullion blocks positioned at opposing sides of the lateral mullion andattached to opposing sidewalk of the plurality of walls, and whereineach of the first and second mullion blocks includes a structural memberthat is parallel with the lateral mullion and that supports respectivehinges within the contact surface, and wherein the first and secondmullion blocks define a space therebetween such that each of the firstand second mullion blocks are free of structural support from the otherof the first and second mullion blocks; a mullion panel that is operablebetween open and closed positions and wherein the lateral mullion ispivotally connected proximate a laterally extending edge of the mullionpanel, wherein the open position of the mullion panel corresponds to thedisplaced position of the selectively operable lateral portion and theclosed position of the mullion panel corresponds to the flush positionof the selectively operable lateral portion within the space between thefirst and second mullion blocks; and a pair of vertically adjacenthinged door panels that are each mounted on the respective hinges andare operable between respective panel open and panel closed positions,wherein each door panel of the pair of vertically adjacent hinged doorpanels in the panel closed position engages the selectively operablelateral portion in the flush position, and wherein the selectivelyoperable lateral portion is operable between the flush and displacedpositions when the pair of vertically adjacent hinged door panels is inany of the panel open and panel closed positions.
 20. The appliance ofclaim 19, further comprising: first and second mullion guides thatdefine a portion of the contact surface, and wherein the first andsecond mullion guides are defined within the first and second mullionblocks, respectively, and engage the lateral mullion to operate theselectively operable lateral portion between the flush position and thedisplaced position.